Inside Christian Wilkins’ contract, from first-round pick to payday
Wilkins is a dominant defensive tackle from the United States. Christian Wilkins’ contract details highlight his journey from a $15.4 million rookie deal with the Miami Dolphins to a blockbuster $110 million agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders. From draft-day dreams to headline-making paydays, Wilkins’ financial rise reads like a playbook for success.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Christian Wilkins signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders in March 2024.
- The Raiders deal included a $24 million signing bonus and $57.5 million fully guaranteed.
- He was released in July 2025 due to injury rehab concerns, voiding $35.2 million guarantees.
- He earned over $26 million during his five seasons with Miami.
- Wilkins' net worth is approximately $20 million as of 2025.
Profile summary
| Full name | Christian Wilkins |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 20 December 1995 |
| Age | 29 years old (as of September 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | Springfield, Massachusetts, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 6’4’’ |
| Height in centimetres | 193 |
| Weight in pounds | 310 |
| Weight in kilograms | 140 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| School | Framingham High SchoolSuffield Academy |
| College | Clemson University |
| Profession | Professional football player |
| @cwilkins42 | |
| Net worth | $20 million |
Christian Wilkins’ contract history
Christian Wilkins has built a strong financial profile in the NFL, combining his first-round rookie deal with the Miami Dolphins and a blockbuster free-agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth $15.4 million. Here is an overview of the NFL players' official contracts with the Dolphins and the Raiders.
| Field | Dolphins contract | Raiders contract |
| Contract type | Drafted | UFA |
| Status | Expired | Terminated |
| Year signed | 2019 | 2024 |
| Years | 4 | 4 |
| Total | $15,439,098 | $110,000,000 |
| APY | $3,859,774 | $27,500,000 |
| Guarantees | $15,439,098 | $57,500,000 |
| Amount earned | $26,192,098 | $29,212,000 |
| % earned | 169.6% | 26.6% |
| Effective APY | $5,238,420 | $29,212,000 |
The deal included a $9.25 million signing bonus, prorated at $2.31 million annually from 2019 to 2022. The American athlete's fifth-year option in 2023 added $10.75 million, bringing his total Dolphins earnings to over $26 million.
Source: Getty Images
Why was Wilkins’s Raiders contract terminated?
The athlete returned to practice in 2025, but the Raiders released him on 24 July, citing concerns over his recovery. The team classified him as a “terminated vested” veteran, which voided about $35.2 million in guaranteed money.
Christian Wilkins' career earnings
Christian Wilkins' earnings highlight steady growth with the Miami Dolphins and a major jump after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. The NFL player’s year-by-year salary is highlighted below from 2019 to 2024:
| Year/ Total | Team | Base salary | Prorated bonus | Guaranteed salary | Capnumber | Cash paid |
| 2019 | Miami Dolphins | $495,000 | $2,312,109 | $495,000 | $2,807,109 | $9,743,436 |
| 2020 | Miami Dolphins | $1,196,777 | $2,312,109 | $1,196,777 | $3,508,886 | $1,196,777 |
| 2021 | Miami Dolphins | $1,898,554 | $2,312,109 | $1,898,554 | $4,210,663 | $1,898,554 |
| 2022 | Miami Dolphins | $2,600,331 | $2,312,109 | $2,600,331 | $4,912,440 | $2,600,331 |
| 2023 | Dolphins | $10,753,000 | – | $10,753,000 | $10,753,000 | $10,753,000 |
| 2024 | Miami Dolphins | $5,000,000 | $4,800,000 | $5,000,000 | $10,753,000 | $29,212,000 |
| Total | – | $21,943,662 | $14,048,436 | $21,943,662 | $36,492,098 | $55,404,098 |
In March 2024, Wilkins secured a four-year, $110 million free-agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, averaging $27.5 million per year. The deal featured a $24 million signing bonus, a fully guaranteed $5 million base salary in 2024, and an $8 million fully guaranteed base salary in 2025.
A $20.5 million roster bonus was also due in early 2025, while later years carried significant base salaries of $27.25 million in 2026 and $23.25 million in 2027. At signing, $57.5 million was fully guaranteed, with practical guarantees rising to $84.75 million under contract conditions.
The Raiders restructured his deal in March 2025 to create cap flexibility. They converted the $20.5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus and added a void year, spreading the charge across the contract. When combined with his original $24 million signing bonus, this restructuring created a prorated cap hit of $9.925 million annually through 2028.
To date, Wilkins’ career earnings total $75,996,098, with a career average per year (APY) of $12,666,016. His contracts have carried total guarantees of $72,939,098, making him one of the highest-paid athletes of his draft class.
Wilkins’ largest single cash payment came in 2024 with the Raiders at $29.2 million, while his highest cap number before restructuring was $10.75 million in 2023 with the Dolphins. According to Essentially Sports, Wilkins's total NFL earnings could have hit $136 million by 2027 if the contract ran its full term.
Wilkin’s net worth: From humble beginnings to big earnings
According to The Economic Times and Essentially Sports, Wilkins’s net worth is approximately $20 million as of 2025. His earnings stem from his NFL earnings and endorsements.
Source: Getty Images
Wilkins’ endorsement deals
Off the field, the NFL player has secured multiple major sponsorships. His college charisma and NFL profile led to notable national endorsements such as Nike, Lowe’s, Verizon, Capital One, Publix, and Procter & Gamble. As per Essentially Sports, these deals collectively add on the order of $1–2 million per year in additional income.
FAQs
- Who is Christian Wilkins? Christian Wilkins is an American defensive tackle who played for the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.
- What is Christian Wilkins' salary? His 2024 salary with the Raiders included a fully guaranteed $5 million base.
- What is Christian Wilkins’ net worth? Christian Wilkins’ net worth is approximately $20 million as of 2025.
- Why did the Raiders release Christian Wilkins? The Raiders released Christian Wilkins, citing concerns over his injury rehab and designated him a "terminated vested" veteran.
- How much do the Raiders owe Christian Wilkins? The Raiders voided about $35.2 million in remaining guarantees after his release.
- Was there Christian Wilkins’ contract extension? No, but the Raiders restructured his contract in March 2025 to create cap flexibility.
- What was Christian Wilkins' signing bonus? Christian Wilkins received a $24 million signing bonus in his 2024 Raiders deal.
Christian Wilkins’ contract showcases his rise from a first-round rookie with Miami to one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackles with Las Vegas. His Dolphins tenure delivered more than $26 million in earnings, while his Raiders deal initially promised $110 million before the release disputes reduced its value.
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